Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-06-17
Inc needle went TO 8.
-seMhat in thunder has happenedg' eiac

Inc needIe went TO g.
ssWhat in thunder has happened?" ejac-
ulated the old man uneasily.
She could not speak, she was so beauti-
fully, hopelessly in love that she dared not
trust herself to say one word. She could
only turn herself mutely to the man be-
side her and let the soft luminance of the
moonlight sift down to show the ghost of
the happy tears that lay in those eyes,
that were SO earnest and aEght with love.
Vellum felt great throb of joy as he
saw her meaning The needle jumped
like flash to %.
ssAhn' said the old gentleman cheerily.
"Ah-h-h-hr' he continued patronizingly,
as it crept steadily up to 20.
"I have never loved any woman" said
Vellum with slightly husky intenseness.
81 have thought at times that they would
be in all my life as things apart. But
from the moment | met you, Symme-
try''- He drew O long, silent breath.
The needle was 40 and fraction.
FsHigh tension" said the old man, shak-
ing his head. ''Suthin' IL have to give
way poorly soon.'' And with his right
thumb and forefinger he twisted a COM
press clamp just the faintest part of an
inch, watching intently the while. p
IT am afraid to say the words came to
say''-Vellum was greatly agitated-the
needle went back a Fttle-''It seems to
me as if my whole life was hanging in the
balance''-the needle was 34-"but could
you-would you, darling, would you-be
my wife?"
His arm went forth in unconscious ap-
pealing to her shoulder, it passed about
her neck of it's own accord, the loving girl
sank toward him like beautiful bending
1i1u har hood hie shOr1dar and
in that kiss of perfect, of intense and
transcendent worship her lovers lips were
pressed to hers.
Two hundred and the maximum. 1t
had jumped there in a flash. The old
mans hair was on end and his eyes were
bullying. The needle chung to the limit
like mussel to rock. 1t would pass
over on the negative side, fly back, try to
get higher, and
"Snapr there was faint sound. The
delicate balance had broken. The galvan-
ometer was ruined.
The old man was wild. He was as mad
as a whole convention of matters. His pet
instrument! He almost frothed at the
mouth. He rushed through the hall, out
of the door, down the walk, and flew at
Vellum.
''You scoundrel! You've smashed my
galvanOmeter, ~ he rOared.
owe kissed your daughter, you old
FOOL roared Vellum back at him.
''Oh,' said Symmetry in anguish. She
shivered in loves fear.
The old mans face was study. There
was not sign of anger in it. At Vellum's
words, as if by magic, his look had
changed instantly to one of deep interest
and some hesitation.
''You-a-you kissed her, you say?''
IT did," said Vellum, without the least
apparent shame.
ssCould you-a-ahem." The old man
was really confused. "Could you'd
I've got another galvanometer-could you,
could you kiss her again?'
'tWell, rather" Vellum did not lose
moment. He kissed her soundly, ard she
did not dare to disobey..
ooh, no-stop-I didn't mean''- The
old gentleman was thrown off his i1u2ance.
But he was helplessly in a dilem177' He
stood silent, en- rely perplexed.
"Wil1 you take me for son-in-law ?"
asked Vellum squarely.
ooh, yes; of course" returned the old
man, little distracted. ''When-a-
when'l you be up again ?"
1t was some time before Mr.. VellHm be-
came aware of the mysterious concomi-
tants of his courtship. When he knn" X
laughed long ana lot1u. They are married
now, and Symmetry seems to share her
fathers interest in the exact sciences. AT
least she thinks that galvanometer the
most perfect mechanical continuance in
the wide, wide world.-H. J. w. Dam in
New York Times.